U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Mammals

Chincoteague

National 

Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague National

Wildlife Refuge

provides homes for over

30 species of mammals.

These animals are

found in all of the

refuge’s various

habitats, but it takes a

cautious observer to

notice many of them. 

As you walk slowly along the trails,

listen carefully and watch patiently.

Remember that the refuge was

established for the benefit of wildlife,

and that you are visitors in their

homes. Please stay on the designated

trails and enjoy the animals from 

a distance.

Keep the Wild in Wildlife!

Please do not feed the animals.

Virginia Opossum 

(Didelphis virginiana), Common.

The opossum is easily recognized by

its pale face and scantily haired tail.

This creature is the only marsupial

found in North America. Commonly

found in wooded areas, the opossum

feeds on carrion, fruits, and berries.

Virginia opossum. Photo: USFWS.

Cover: Eastern

cottontail rabbit.

Photo: Irene Hinke

Sacilotto

Little Brown Bat 

(Myotis lucifugus), Common. The

little brown bat roosts in hollow trees

and is seen generally at dusk and

dawn feeding on insects.

Eastern Cottontail 

(Sylvilagus floridanus), Common.

The best known rabbit in North

America, the Eastern cottontail

prefers shrub and forested areas.
Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel Red fox

Muskrat Raccoon
River Otter 

(Lutra canadensis), Uncommon. A

large, elongate member of the weasel

family, this critter has webbed toes

and a thick tail. River otters may be

seen in the freshwater impoundments

and occasionally on the beach. 

They eat fish, crabs, and other

aquatic invertebrates. 

White-Tailed Deer 

(Odocoileus virginianus), Common.

The only native deer present in the

mid-Atlantic, the white-tailed deer

prefers wooded areas and grazing

meadows. Its tail is white on the

underside and springs upward 

when alarmed.

Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel

(Sciurus niger cenerus), Uncommon.

An endangered species, the

Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel was

introduced to the refuge in 1968. The

fox squirrel is larger than the gray

squirrel with a bushier tail. These

squirrels live in wooded areas and

generally stay close to the ground. 

Muskrat 

(Ondatra zibethicus), Common. 

This semiaquatic mammal can 

be found in both freshwater and

brackish impoundments. The

muskrat’s rabbit-sized body is

laterally compressed and has a

sparsely haired tail.

Meadow Jumping Mouse 

(Zapus hudsonius), Common. The

meadow jumping mouse can use its

large hind feet to jump away from

predators (over two feet high and 

ten feet forward!) and is found

around freshwater impoundments.

This mouse feeds on seeds, fruit,

fungi and insects.

Red Fox 

(Vulpes vulpes), Common. The 

red fox frequents edges between

different types of cover and usually

digs dens in open areas such as 

sand dunes. The red fox is a major

predator, eating anything it can find

including rabbits, birds, and insects.

Raccoon 

(Procyon lotor), Common. This

resourceful predator can be found 

in all habitats, but is most common 

in marsh edges, woods, and thickets.

Raccoons also venture out to the

shore to feast on duck and quail 

eggs as well as various items 

washed ashore.

River otter. Photo: Irene Hinke Sacilotto.

White-tailed deer buck. Photo: Robert Wilson,

USFWS.

o

V

G

A

Inset photos:

Delmarva Peninsuala

fox squirrel, Photo:

W.H. Julian, USFWS;

Red fox. Photo:

USFWS; Muskrat,

Photo: Irene Hinke

Sacilotto; Raccoon,

Photo: J. Kent

Minichiello.
Sika Elk 

(Cervus nippon), Common. The sika

is an Asian elk which was released on

Assateague Island in the 1920s. They

are smaller than white-tailed deer

and have a distinct all-white rump.

Sika can also be distinguished by

their white spots, which they retain

all year. 

Bottlenose Dolphin 

(Tursiops truncatus), Common. 

Often seen frolicking in the surf

along the shore during the summer,

this dolphin’s coloration is a blend 

of brown to charcoal with a lighter 

belly. The curiosity of the bottlenose

dolphin often brings it into close

contact with humans.

Humpback Whale 

(Megaptera novaeangliae), Rare. 

Its Latin name, meaning large fin 

or wing, is an accurate description 

of the long flippers of the humpback

whale. They are not especially fast

swimmers, but they are the most

animated and acrobatic large 

whale species.

Other Mammals of Chincoteague

National Wildlife Refuge

Least Shrew 

(Cryptotis parva), Uncommon.

Silver-haired Bat 

(Lasionycteris noctivagans),

Common.

Red Bat 

(Lasiurus borealis), Common.

White-footed Mouse 

(Peromyscus leucopus), Common.

House Mouse 

(Mus musculus), Common.

Meadow Vole 

(Microtus pennsylvanicus),

Common.

Rice Rat 

(Oryzomys palustris), Common.

Norway Rat 

(Rattus norvegicus), Uncommon.

Wild Pony 

(Equus caballus), Common.

Harbor Seal 

(Phoca vitulina), Rare.

Hooded Seal 

(Cystophora cristata), Rare.

Gray Seal 

(Halichoerus gryphus), Rare.

True’s Beaked Whale 

(Mesoplodon mirus), Rare.

Sika elk. Photo: Robert Wilson, USFWS.

Pony mare with foal.

Photo: Irene Hinke

Sacilotto.

Large fin of a

humpback whale.

Photo: ©Photodisc.
Goosebeak Whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Rare.

Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps), Rare.

Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Rare.

Spotted Dolphin (Stenella plagiodon), Rare.

Rough-toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Rare.

Common Dolphin (Delphinis delphis), Common. Atlantic White-sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus),

Uncommon.

Melon-headed Whale (Peponocephala electra), Rare. Atlantic Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Rare.

Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus), Rare.

Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melaena), Rare. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Rare.

Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Rare.

Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Rare.

Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Rare.

Black Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis), Rare.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Chincoteague is one of over 500

refuges in the National Wildlife 

Refuge System administered by 

the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 

The National Wildlife Refuge 

System is a network of lands and

waters managed specifically for the

protection of wildlife and wildlife

habitat and represents the most

comprehensive wildlife resource

management program in the 

world. Units of the system stretch

across the United States from

northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in 

the Caribbean and South Pacific. 

The habitat of refuges is as diverse 

as the nation itself.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also

manages National Fish Hatcheries, 

and provides federal leadership in

habitat protection, fish and wildlife

research, technical assistance and 

the conservation and protection of

migratory birds, certain marine

mammals and threatened and

endangered species. 

Equal opportunity to participate in, 

and benefit from, the programs and

activities of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Service is available to all individuals,

regardless of age, race, religion, color,

sex, national origin, or disability. 

Contact: U.S. Department of the

Interior, Office of Equal Employment

Opportunity, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.

Common dolphin.

Photo: 

©Photodisc.
For further information, contact:

Refuge Manager

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 62

Chincoteague Island, Virginia 23336-0062

Telephone: 757/336 6122

Fax: 757/336 5273

E-mail: R5RW_CHNWR@fws.gov

December 1999